poohbear6301

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about getting your BSN online as opposed to having to attend a campus somewhere? The closest campus for me is 45 min drive and with a special needs daughter + working full time, it would be nearly impossible to be on campus while trying to keep up with everything going on at my home. Nite classes are out of choice because I'm not able to leave her alone.

I have looked into working toward my BSN if for no other reason than to possibly teach new hires to our agency about the trach and vents we commanly use. The problem I've run into is that because my program was just changing over from a "hospital diploma" program to the College program I graduated from. At that time it wasn't accredited yet. Thus for me to go any further in my education I would need to repeat some of my originol classes. That's why I feel so strongly that these legislators who want to change the licensing law, need to give nurses credit for thier experience. When I started nursing, WE were respiratory therapy and after the initial vent set up, changed to settings as directed by the doctor. The only thing respiratory thereapy did was set up oxygen. The other thing that has changed alot is central supply. We used to take our bedpans, wash basins, emesis pans... and sterilize them after cleaning in our own autoclave. We even used it to warm bath blankets to help with people just coming back from proceedures. Of course ventilators were the size of a small dresser and the concept of having someone home on a vent was not heard of. For someone like myself who have been nursing 30+ years, why not give us a chance to "test out of" some of the requirements for the degree. And yes, if the BSN was to help you get into a position away from the bedside, then my originol complaint remains. The BSN (and higher) degree often will take the nurses from the bedside---the exact place we (in NY) are told we need the most nurses. Even when doing

I work for an agency that handles both adults and pediatrics on vents in thier home. I am the preceptor for the adults with vents as the lady Icare for has an unusual type of trach tube and has been on her trach/vent for more than 3 years. Depending on your DME (durable goods company) the most comman home vent is the Puriten-Bennet LP-6 or LP-10. It is used for adults or children over the age of 15 or so. It can be used with an HME (or as we refer to them 'the nose') or with a heated water cascade that is mounted beside it. Important to know and remember no oxygen or vent should be used without some sort of humidifcation. Another common vent in home care, due to its portability, is the Newport HT-50. It has the ability to also be used with HME or can be adapted to use with heated cascade. It has an additional reminder in that each circuit MUST be recalibrated as the exhale valve for this vent is in the circuit and must be matched with the vent with each circuit change. With children, or people who have lost most of thier breathing muscles (MD, ALS, or spinal injury) the most comman vent in home care has been the T-bird. This vent uses an HME and is the newest of the three I've mentioned. There are several other older vents for children but they are individual to each case and choice of the doctor. A good web site to check on the differnt types of vents you might come across is Ventworld.com. Or you can go to the above manufactures and they will have more information. Mallinckrodt is another company that may give you further information. They sell both trach tubes and vent supplies. I hope this helps, PM me if you have any other questions.

It figures NY would do something so backward. They arent even considering giving credit for years worked in the field either. As a nurse of 30+ years I would find it a great hardship to have to return to school for two more years of education of what??? How to be a unit manager??? I have no interest or wish to have additoinal instruction in the administrative duties of nursing. I have been a 'hands-on' nurse from the very beginning and don't expect to stop now. If this goes through I forsee the backward state loosing a great number of experienced nurses who will let their license lapse/or inactive rather than be compelled to return to school.

Having started my nursing career out in Syracuse, I would say try to get into a VNA system agency. I worked with Independant Nursing out of Liverpool and they were great. On the flip side I worked for and another agency out of Ithaca, Stafkings, and they were next to impossible. In 1998 or 1999, when we had that real bad storm on the last day of the State Fair, our agency, VNA systems, were the only ones who were able to cover ALL of thier clients. I know because I travelled the 28 miles over down power lines to go from Auburn to Syracuse to take care of my gentleman with ALS who was vent. dependant and expecting me. I guess my best advice for a first starter would be find one that is willing to work with you on your schedule and how flexible they are when 'family emergencys' come up. I work for Bayada Nurses here in NC and they are great.

I have worked for an agency for the past three years now off and on. I enjoy the freedom of not having to work weekends. The trade-off is I don't have any insurance or other benefits, as to have that I have to purchase it and it is cost prohibitive. I have a special needs daughter, 15 years old who attends school during the day so I work during that time and am home when she is. Mostly I do high-tech cases...ventilator dependant adults and pediatrics. I have been nursing for almost 30 years so when I started school...we WERE RT and was taught alot of the ventilator skills now adays only RT is allowed to do....

[by the by the "purple disk" is called advair, I think...I started taking that evil tasting thing this past august...along with my rescue inhaler of combivent]...